Uplink control information transmission method, terminal device, and network device

ABSTRACT

Embodiments of the present invention provide an uplink control information transmission method, a terminal device, and a network device. The method comprises: a terminal device determines multiple uplink control channel units for transmitting target uplink control information, the multiple uplink control channel units being located in a same target time unit in a time domain, and each of the multiple uplink control channel units capable of separately transmitting the uplink control information; and in the target time unit, the terminal device sends the target uplink control information to a network device by means of the multiple uplink control channel units. By means of the embodiments of the present invention, the flexibility of the uplink control information can be improved.

TECHNICAL FIELD

Embodiments of the disclosure relate to the field of communication, andmore particularly, to a method for uplink control informationtransmission, a terminal device and a network device.

BACKGROUND

A future communication system, for example, a 5th-Generation (5G) system(or called a 5G New Radio (NR) system) supports dynamic downlink HybridAutomatic Repeat reQuest (HARQ) timing determination, flexible subframestructure, carrier aggregation and massive antenna technologies and thelike. Introduction of these technologies may cause a relatively greatdifference between the bit numbers of uplink control informationtransmitted by a terminal device in different time units (for example,different time slots).

Multiple uplink control channel formats are defined in the existingprotocol, and different uplink control channel formats have differentuplink control information capacities to support transmission of uplinkcontrol information of different capacities. In practical use, aterminal device may select, from multiple predefined uplink controlchannel formats, an uplink control channel format matched with acapacity of uplink control information to be transmitted, and transmitthe uplink control information in the uplink control channel format.

The uplink control information transmission manner according to theexisting protocol is not flexible and unsuitable for a communicationsystem, in which bit numbers of uplink control information vary greatly.

SUMMARY

The embodiments of the disclosure provide a method for uplink controlinformation transmission, a terminal device and a network device, so asto improve transmission flexibility of uplink control information.

A first aspect provides a method for uplink control informationtransmission, which may include that, a terminal device determinesmultiple uplink control channel elements for transmitting target uplinkcontrol information. The multiple uplink control channel elements arewithin the same target time unit in time domain and each of the multipleuplink control channel elements may be capable of independentlytransmitting the uplink control information; and the terminal devicetransmits, in the target time unit, the target uplink controlinformation to a network device through the multiple uplink controlchannel elements.

In combination with the first aspect, in some implementation modes ofthe first aspect, a length of time-domain resources occupied by anuplink control channel element may be equal to a length of time-domainresources occupied by a number A of Orthogonal Frequency DivisionMultiplexing (OFDM) symbols, and a length of frequency-domain resourcesoccupied by the uplink control channel element may be equal to a lengthof frequency-domain resources occupied by A number B of Resource Blocks(RBs), both of A and B being positive integers greater than or equal to1.

In combination with the first aspect, in some implementation modes ofthe first aspect, the method may further include that, the terminaldevice determines the length of the time-domain resources and/orfrequency-domain resources occupied by the uplink control channelelements according to a rule specified by a protocol.

In combination with the first aspect, in some implementation modes ofthe first aspect, the method may further include that, the terminaldevice determines the length of the time-domain resources and/orfrequency-domain resources occupied by the uplink control channelelements according to signaling transmitted by the network device.

In combination with the first aspect, in some implementation modes ofthe first aspect, the maximum bit number of uplink control informationwhich can be transmitted by one uplink control channel element may be N,and a value of N may be set in one of the following manners: setting thevalue of N to be 2; the value of N is set to be equal to a presetmaximum bit number of Acknowledgment (ACK)/Negative Acknowledgment(NACK) information corresponding to downlink data transmitted in a timeunit; and the value of N is configured by the network device.

In combination with the first aspect, in some implementation modes ofthe first aspect, the operation that the terminal device determines themultiple uplink control channel elements for transmitting the targetuplink control information may include that, the terminal devicereceives multiple pieces of downlink data, each of the multiple piecesof downlink data corresponding to independent ACK/NACK information andthe target uplink control information including the ACK/NACK informationof the multiple pieces of downlink data; and for each of the multiplepieces of downlink data, the terminal device determines one or morecorresponding uplink control channel elements, to obtain the multipleuplink control channel elements.

In combination with the first aspect, in some implementation modes ofthe first aspect, each of the multiple pieces of downlink data maycorrespond to at least one of the multiple uplink control channelelements, each of the multiple uplink control channel elements beingconfigured to transmit the ACK/NACK information of the downlink datacorresponding to the uplink control channel element.

In combination with the first aspect, in some implementation modes ofthe first aspect, the method may further include that, the terminaldevice determines a number of uplink control channel elements requiredfor transmission of the target uplink control information according tothe bit number of the target uplink control information and the maximumbit number of the uplink control information which can be transmitted byone uplink control channel element.

In combination with the first aspect, in some implementation modes ofthe first aspect, the operation that the terminal device determines thenumber of the uplink control channel elements required for transmissionof the target uplink control information according to the bit number ofthe target uplink control information and the maximum bit number of theuplink control information which can be transmitted by one uplinkcontrol channel element may include that, the terminal device determinesthe number of the uplink control channel elements required fortransmission of the target uplink control information according toK·┌M/N┐, where M may represent the bit number of the target uplinkcontrol information, N may represent the maximum bit number of theuplink control information which can be transmitted by one uplinkcontrol channel element and K may be a positive integer greater than orequal to 1.

In combination with the first aspect, in some implementation modes ofthe first aspect, the method may further include that, the terminaldevice receives indication information transmitted by the networkdevice, the indication information including information for determiningthe resources occupied by the multiple uplink control channel elements;and the terminal device determines the resources occupied by themultiple uplink control channel elements according to the indicationinformation.

In combination with the first aspect, in some implementation modes ofthe first aspect, the indication information may be Downlink ControlInformation (DCI).

In combination with the first aspect, in some implementation modes ofthe first aspect, the method may further include that, the terminaldevice determines a resource occupied by a first uplink control channelelement in the multiple uplink control channel elements; and theterminal device determines resources occupied by the other uplinkcontrol channel elements, except the first uplink control channelelement, in the multiple uplink control channel elements according tothe resource occupied by the first uplink control channel element.

In combination with the first aspect, in some implementation modes ofthe first aspect, the operation that the terminal device determines theresources occupied by the other uplink control channel elements, exceptthe first uplink control channel element, in the multiple uplink controlchannel elements according to the resource occupied by the first uplinkcontrol channel element may include that, the terminal device determinesserial numbers of the resources occupied by the other uplink controlchannel elements according to a serial number of the resource occupiedby the first uplink control channel element; and the terminal devicedetermines the resources occupied by the other uplink control channelelements according to the serial numbers of the resources occupied bythe other uplink control channel elements.

In combination with the first aspect, in some implementation modes ofthe first aspect, the operation that the terminal device determines theresources occupied by the other uplink control channel elementsaccording to the serial numbers of the resources occupied by the otheruplink control channel elements may include that, the terminal devicedetermines the serial numbers of the resources occupied by the otheruplink control channel elements according to the serial number of theresource occupied by the first uplink control channel element and apredefined function; or, the terminal device determines the serialnumbers of the resources occupied by the other uplink control channelelements according to the serial number of the resource occupied by thefirst uplink control channel element and a preset offset; or, theterminal device determines the serial numbers of the resources occupiedby the other uplink control channel elements according to the serialnumber of the resource occupied by the first uplink control channelelement and HARQ timing of the other downlink data, the multiple uplinkcontrol channel elements being configured to transmit the ACK/NACKinformation of the multiple pieces of downlink data respectively and theother downlink data being the downlink data, except the downlink datacorresponding to the first uplink control channel element, in themultiple pieces of downlink data; or, the terminal device determines theserial numbers of the resources occupied by the other uplink controlchannel elements according to the serial number of the resource occupiedby the first uplink control channel element, and sequence numbers oftime units where the other downlink data are located and/or sequencenumbers of carriers where the other downlink data are located, themultiple uplink control channel elements being configured to transmitthe ACK/NACK information of the multiple pieces of downlink datarespectively, and the other downlink data being the downlink data,except the downlink data corresponding to the first uplink controlchannel element, in the multiple pieces of downlink data; or, theterminal device determines the serial numbers of the resources occupiedby the other uplink control channel elements according to the serialnumber of the resource occupied by the first uplink control channelelement and serial numbers of the other downlink data, the multipleuplink control channel elements being configured to transmit theACK/NACK information of the multiple pieces of downlink datarespectively and the other downlink data being the downlink data, exceptthe downlink data corresponding to the first uplink control channelelement, in the multiple pieces of downlink data; or, the terminaldevice determines the serial numbers of the resources occupied by theother uplink control channel elements according to the serial number ofthe resource occupied by the first uplink control channel element andserial numbers of Transport Blocks (TBs) or coding blocks carried in theother downlink data, the multiple uplink control channel elements beingconfigured to transmit the ACK/NACK information of the multiple piecesof downlink data respectively and the downlink data being the downlinkdata, except the downlink data corresponding to the first uplink controlchannel element, in the multiple pieces of downlink data.

In combination with the first aspect, in some implementation modes ofthe first aspect, the resources occupied by the other uplink controlchannel elements may be at least partially the same as the resourceoccupied by the first uplink control channel element.

In combination with the first aspect, in some implementation modes ofthe first aspect, the operation that the terminal device determines theresource occupied by the first uplink control channel element in themultiple uplink control channel elements may include that, the terminaldevice determines the resource occupied by the first uplink controlchannel element according to the signaling transmitted by the networkdevice; or, the terminal device determines the resource occupied by thefirst uplink control channel element according to a Radio NetworkTemporary Identity (RNTI) of the terminal device or an Identity (ID) ofthe terminal; or, the terminal device determines the resource occupiedby the first uplink control channel element according to a serial numberof a physical resource occupied by a downlink control channelcorresponding to the first uplink control channel element.

In combination with the first aspect, in some implementation modes ofthe first aspect, the resource occupied by an uplink control channelelement may include at least one of a time-domain resource, afrequency-domain resource, or a code-domain resource.

In combination with the first aspect, in some implementation modes ofthe first aspect, the multiple uplink control channel elements may beused to repeatedly transmit the target uplink control information.

In combination with the first aspect, in some implementation modes ofthe first aspect, the multiple uplink control channel elements may beused together to transmit the target uplink control information, anddifferent uplink control channel elements in the multiple uplink controlchannel elements may be used to transmit different information in thetarget uplink control information.

In combination with the first aspect, in some implementation modes ofthe first aspect, the time unit may be a time slot.

A second aspect provides a method for uplink control informationtransmission, which may include that, a network device determinesmultiple uplink control channel elements for transmitting target uplinkcontrol information. The multiple uplink control channel elements arewithin in the same target time unit in time domain, and each of themultiple uplink control channel elements may be capable of independentlytransmitting uplink control information. And the network devicereceives, in the target time unit, the target uplink control informationtransmitted by a terminal device through the multiple uplink controlchannel elements.

In combination with the second aspect, in some implementation modes ofthe second aspect, a length of time-domain resources occupied by anuplink control channel element may be equal to a length of time-domainresources occupied by a number A of OFDM symbols, and a length offrequency-domain resources occupied by the uplink control channelelement may be equal to a length of frequency-domain resources occupiedby a number B of RBs, both of A and B being positive integers greaterthan or equal to 1.

In combination with the second aspect, in some implementation modes ofthe second aspect, the method may further include that, the networkdevice determines the length of the time-domain resources and/orfrequency-domain resources occupied by the uplink control channelelements according to a rule specified by a protocol.

In combination with the second aspect, in some implementation modes ofthe second aspect, the method may further include that, the networkdevice configures the length of the time-domain resources and/orfrequency-domain resources occupied by the uplink control channelelements.

In combination with the second aspect, in some implementation modes ofthe second aspect, the maximum bit number of uplink control informationwhich can be transmitted by one uplink control channel element may be N,and a value of N may be set in one of the following manners: setting thevalue of N to be 2; the value of N is set to be equal to a presetmaximum bit number of ACK/NACK information corresponding to downlinkdata transmitted in a time unit; and the value of N is configured by thenetwork device.

In combination with the second aspect, in some implementation modes ofthe second aspect, the operation that the network device determines themultiple uplink control channel elements for transmitting the targetuplink control information may include that, the network devicetransmits multiple pieces of downlink data to the terminal device, eachof the multiple pieces of downlink data corresponding to independentACK/NACK information and the target uplink control information includingthe ACK/NACK information of the multiple pieces of downlink data; andfor each of the multiple pieces of downlink data, the network devicedetermines one or more corresponding uplink control channel elements, toobtain the multiple uplink control channel elements.

In combination with the second aspect, in some implementation modes ofthe second aspect, each of the multiple pieces of downlink data maycorrespond to at least one of the multiple uplink control channelelements, each of the multiple uplink control channel elements beingconfigured to transmit the ACK/NACK information of the downlink datacorresponding to the uplink control channel element.

In combination with the second aspect, in some implementation modes ofthe second aspect, the method may further include that, the networkdevice determines a number of uplink control channel elements requiredfor transmission of the target uplink control information according to abit number of the target uplink control information and a maximum bitnumber of the uplink control information which can be transmitted by oneuplink control channel element.

In combination with the second aspect, in some implementation modes ofthe second aspect, the operation that the network device determines thenumber of the uplink control channel elements required for transmissionof the target uplink control information according to the bit number ofthe target uplink control information and the maximum bit number of theuplink control information which can be transmitted by one uplinkcontrol channel element may include that, the network device determinesthe number of the uplink control channel elements required fortransmission of the target uplink control information according toK·┌M/N┐, where M may represent the bit number of the target uplinkcontrol information, N may represent the maximum bit number of theuplink control information which can be transmitted by one uplinkcontrol channel element and K may be a positive integer greater than orequal to 1.

In combination with the second aspect, in some implementation modes ofthe second aspect, the method may further include that, the networkdevice generates indication information, the indication informationincluding information for determining the resources occupied by themultiple uplink control channel elements; and the network devicetransmits the indication information to the terminal device.

In combination with the second aspect, in some implementation modes ofthe second aspect, the indication information may be DCI.

In combination with the second aspect, in some implementation modes ofthe second aspect, the method may further include that, the networkdevice determines a resource occupied by a first uplink control channelelement in the multiple uplink control channel elements; and the networkdevice determines resources occupied by the other uplink control channelelements, except the first uplink control channel element, in themultiple uplink control channel elements according to the resourceoccupied by the first uplink control channel element.

In combination with the second aspect, in some implementation modes ofthe second aspect, the operation that the network device determines theresources occupied by the other uplink control channel elements, exceptthe first uplink control channel element, in the multiple uplink controlchannel elements according to the resource occupied by the first uplinkcontrol channel element may include that, the network device determinesserial numbers of the resources occupied by the other uplink controlchannel elements according to a serial number of the resource occupiedby the first uplink control channel element; and the network devicedetermines the resources occupied by the other uplink control channelelements according to the serial numbers of the resources occupied bythe other uplink control channel elements.

In combination with the second aspect, in some implementation modes ofthe second aspect, the operation that the network device determines theresources occupied by the other uplink control channel elementsaccording to the serial numbers of the resources occupied by the otheruplink control channel elements may include that, the network devicedetermines the serial numbers of the resources occupied by the otheruplink control channel elements according to the serial number of theresource occupied by the first uplink control channel element and apredefined function; or, the network device determines the serialnumbers of the resources occupied by the other uplink control channelelements according to the serial number of the resource occupied by thefirst uplink control channel element and a preset offset; or, thenetwork device determines the serial numbers of the resources occupiedby the other uplink control channel elements according to the serialnumber of the resource occupied by the first uplink control channelelement and HARQ timing of the other downlink data, the multiple uplinkcontrol channel elements being configured to transmit the ACK/NACKinformation of the multiple pieces of downlink data respectively and theother downlink data being the downlink data, except the downlink datacorresponding to the first uplink control channel element, in themultiple pieces of downlink data; or, the network device determines theserial numbers of the resources occupied by the other uplink controlchannel elements according to the serial number of the resource occupiedby the first uplink control channel element, and sequence numbers oftime units where the other downlink data are located and/or sequencenumbers of carriers where the other downlink data are located, themultiple uplink control channel elements being configured to transmitthe ACK/NACK information of the multiple pieces of downlink datarespectively and the other downlink data being the downlink data, exceptthe downlink data corresponding to the first uplink control channelelement, in the multiple pieces of downlink data; or, the network devicedetermines the serial numbers of the resources occupied by the otheruplink control channel elements according to the serial number of theresource occupied by the first uplink control channel element and serialnumbers of the other downlink data, the multiple uplink control channelelements being configured to transmit the ACK/NACK information of themultiple pieces of downlink data respectively and the other downlinkdata being the downlink data, except the downlink data corresponding tothe first uplink control channel element, in the multiple pieces ofdownlink data; or, the network device determines the serial numbers ofthe resources occupied by the other uplink control channel elementsaccording to the serial number of the resource occupied by the firstuplink control channel element and serial numbers of TBs or codingblocks carried in the other downlink data, the multiple uplink controlchannel elements being configured to transmit the ACK/NACK informationof the multiple pieces of downlink data respectively and the downlinkdata being the downlink data, except the downlink data corresponding tothe first uplink control channel element, in the multiple pieces ofdownlink data.

In combination with the second aspect, in some implementation modes ofthe second aspect, the resources occupied by the other uplink controlchannel elements may be at least partially the same as the resourceoccupied by the first uplink control channel element.

In combination with the second aspect, in some implementation modes ofthe second aspect, the operation that the network device determines theresource occupied by the first uplink control channel element in themultiple uplink control channel elements may include that, the networkdevice configures the resource occupied by the first uplink controlchannel element; or, the network device determines the resource occupiedby the first uplink control channel element according to an RNTI of theterminal device or an ID of the terminal; or, the network devicedetermines the resource occupied by the first uplink control channelelement according to a serial number of a physical resource occupied bya downlink control channel corresponding to the first uplink controlchannel element.

In combination with the second aspect, in some implementation modes ofthe second aspect, the resource occupied by an uplink control channelelement may include at least one of a time-domain resource, afrequency-domain resource, or a code-domain resource.

In combination with the second aspect, in some implementation modes ofthe second aspect, the multiple uplink control channel elements may beused to repeatedly transmit the target uplink control information.

In combination with the second aspect, in some implementation modes ofthe second aspect, the multiple uplink control channel elements may beused together to transmit the target uplink control information, anddifferent uplink control channel elements in the multiple uplink controlchannel elements may be used to transmit different information in thetarget uplink control information.

In combination with the second aspect, in some implementation modes ofthe second aspect, the time unit may be a time slot.

A third aspect provides a terminal device, which includes unitsconfigured to execute the method in the first aspect.

A fourth aspect provides a network device, which includes unitsconfigured to execute the method in the second aspect.

A fifth aspect provides a terminal device, which includes a processorand a transceiver, the processor executing the method in the firstaspect on the basis of the transceiver.

A sixth aspect provides a network device, which includes a processor anda transceiver, the processor executing the method in the second aspecton the basis of the transceiver.

A seventh aspect provides a computer-readable medium, which storesprogram codes configured to be executed by a terminal device, theprogram codes including instructions configured to execute the method inthe first aspect.

An eighth aspect provides a computer-readable medium, which storesprogram codes configured to be executed by a network device, the programcode including instructions configured to execute the method in thesecond aspect.

In the embodiments of the disclosure, uplink control information istransmitted between the terminal device and the network device by takingan uplink control channel element as a unit, and in a transmissionprocess of the target uplink control information, the terminal devicemay determine the number of the uplink control channel elements to beused according to the target uplink control information and thentransmit the target uplink control information by use of the determineduplink control channel elements. In other words, the terminal device mayflexibly select uplink resources required for transmission of the targetuplink control information according to a practical condition, so thattransmission flexibility of the uplink control information is improved.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic flowchart of a method for uplink controlinformation transmission according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 2a is a location distribution diagram of multiple target time unitsin a time slot according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 2b is a schematic diagram of a mapping relationship between aPhysical Downlink Shared Channel (PDSCH) and an uplink control channelelement according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a schematic flowchart of a method for uplink controlinformation transmission according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a schematic structure diagram of a network device according toan embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 5 is a schematic structure diagram of a network device according toan embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 6 is a schematic structure diagram of a terminal device accordingto an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 7 is a schematic structure diagram of a network device according toan embodiment of the disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The technical solutions in the embodiments of the disclosure will beclearly and completely described below in combination with the drawingsin the embodiments of the disclosure.

It is to be understood that the technical solutions of the disclosuremay be applied to various communication systems, for example, a GlobalSystem of Mobile Communication (GSM), a Code Division Multiple Access(CDMA) system, a Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA) system,a General Packet Radio Service (GPRS), a Long Term Evolution (LTE)system, an Advanced Long Term Evolution (LTE-A) system, a UniversalMobile Telecommunication System (UMTS), NR and 5G.

It is also to be understood that, in the embodiments of the disclosure,a terminal device may include, but not limited to, a Mobile Station(MS), a mobile terminal, a mobile telephone, User Equipment (UE), ahandset, portable equipment and the like. The terminal device maycommunicate with one or more core networks through a Radio AccessNetwork (RAN). For example, the terminal device may be a mobile phone(or called a “cell” phone), a computer with a wireless communicationfunction and the like. The terminal device may also be a portable,pocket, handheld, computer-embedded or vehicle-mounted mobile device.

In the embodiments of the disclosure, a network device may be an accessnetwork device and, for example, may be a base station, a Transmit andReceive Point (TRP) or an access point. The base station may be a BaseTransceiver Station (BTS) in the GSM or the CDMA, may also be a NodeB inthe WCDMA, may also be an Evolved Node B (eNB or e-NodeB) in the LTE andmay further be a gNB in the NR or the 5G. There are no specific limitsmade thereto in the embodiments of the disclosure.

It is described above that, in a future communication system, there mayexist a relatively great difference between the bit numbers of uplinkcontrol information transmitted by a terminal device in different timeunits. Therefore, a definition manner for uplink control channel formatsin a present protocol is unsuitable for the future communication system.Specifically, if a large number of uplink control channel formats aredefined, the protocol may inevitably be overcomplicated and, if only asmall number of uplink control channel formats with high capacities aredefined, uplink transmission resources may be wasted.

The embodiments of the disclosure disclose a method for uplink controlinformation transmission, which can support flexible extension ofresources for transmission of uplink control information. Detaileddescriptions will be made below in combination with FIG. 1.

FIG. 1 is a schematic flowchart of a method for uplink controlinformation transmission according to an embodiment of the disclosure.The method illustrated in FIG. 1 includes the following actions.

In 110, a terminal device determines multiple uplink control channelelements for transmitting target uplink control information. Themultiple uplink control channel elements are within the same target timeunit in time domain, and each of the multiple uplink control channelelements may be capable of independently transmitting the uplink controlinformation (i.e., one or more uplink control channel elements canindependently transmit the uplink control information).

Specifically, a time unit may be defined in any of multiple manners. Forexample, the time unit may be a time slot. For example, the time unit isa time slot and the multiple uplink control channel elements are threeuplink control channel elements. The target time unit may be a time slotn+1 in FIG. 2a , the three uplink control channel elements are locatedin an uplink region of the time slot n+1, and the three uplink controlchannel elements carry the target uplink control information to betransmitted in the time slot n+1.

There are no specific limits made to a type of the target uplink controlinformation in the embodiment of the disclosure. For example, ACK/NACKinformation of downlink data may be included, and Channel StateInformation (CSI) and the like may also be included.

The uplink control channel elements in the disclosure may be resourceelements configured to carry the uplink control information or resourceparticles configured to carry the uplink control information. Forexample, they may be resource elements or resource particles configuredto carry the ACK/NACK information. In addition, in some embodiments, theuplink control channel elements may also be called Physical UplinkControl Channel (PUCCH) elements, PUCCH resource elements or PUCCHresource particles.

In 120, the terminal device transmits, in the target time unit, thetarget uplink control information to a network device through themultiple uplink control channel elements.

In the embodiment of the disclosure, uplink control information istransmitted between the terminal device and the network device by takingan uplink control channel element as a unit. In a transmission processof the target uplink control information, the terminal device maydetermine the number of the uplink control channel elements to be usedaccording to the target uplink control information, and then transmitthe target uplink control information by use of the determined uplinkcontrol channel elements. In other words, the terminal device mayflexibly select uplink resources required for transmission of the targetuplink control information according to a practical condition, so thattransmission flexibility of the uplink control information is improved.For example, an uplink control channel element may correspond to anuplink control channel format with a low capacity, and the terminaldevice may flexibly extend the transmission resources for the uplinkcontrol information by taking the uplink control channel element as aunit according to a practical requirement, so that the transmissionflexibility of the uplink control information is improved.

Alternatively, in some embodiments, before 110, the method illustratedin FIG. 1 may further include that, the terminal device determines theuplink control channel elements. For example, at least one of thefollowing information of the uplink control channel elements isdetermined: a length of time-domain resources occupied by the uplinkcontrol channel elements, a length of frequency-domain resourcesoccupied by the uplink control channel elements, the maximum bit numberof uplink control information which can be transmitted by the uplinkcontrol channel element and the like.

Alternatively, in some embodiments, before 110, the method illustratedin FIG. 1 may further include that, the terminal device determines thetarget uplink control information to be transmitted in the target timeunit. Specifically, the target uplink control information may includethe ACK/NACK information corresponding to the downlink data, and theterminal device may determine the ACK/NACK information to be transmittedin the target time unit according to the amount of received targetdownlink data, the target downlink data being downlink data of which thecorresponding ACK/NACK information is to be transmitted in the targettime unit.

Alternatively, as an embodiment, the length of the time-domain resourcesoccupied by an uplink control channel element is equal to a length oftime-domain resources occupied by a number A of OFDM symbols, and thelength of the frequency-domain resources occupied by the uplink controlchannel element is equal to a length of frequency-domain resourcesoccupied by a number B of RBs, both A and B being positive integersgreater than or equal to 1. For example, A=B=1. That is, an uplinkcontrol channel element occupies a symbol in the time domain, andoccupies a frequency-domain resource length, for example, 12subcarriers, corresponding to an RB in the frequency domain.

In the embodiment of the disclosure, a size of the uplink controlchannel element is fixed and the terminal device and the network deviceare not required to determine the size of the uplink control channelelement every time, so that a transmission process of the uplink controlinformation is simplified.

Alternatively, as an embodiment, the method illustrated in FIG. 1 mayfurther include that, the terminal device determines the length of thetime-domain resources and/or frequency-domain resources occupied by theuplink control channel elements according to a rule specified by aprotocol. In other words, the terminal device may determine the lengthof the time-domain resources occupied by the uplink control channelelements according to the rule specified by the protocol; and/or theterminal device may determine the length of the frequency-domainresources occupied by the uplink control channel elements according tothe rule specified by the protocol.

Specifically, the terminal device may be a terminal device following acertain protocol and the terminal device may determine the length of thetime-domain resources and/or frequency-domain resources occupied by theuplink control channel elements according to a rule specified by theprotocol.

Alternatively, as an embodiment, the method illustrated in FIG. 1 mayfurther include that, the terminal device determines the length of thetime-domain resources and/or frequency-domain resources occupied by theuplink control channel elements according to signaling transmitted bythe network device.

Alternatively, as an embodiment, the maximum bit number of the uplinkcontrol information which can be transmitted by one uplink controlchannel element is N, and the value of N is set to be 2. Such adefinition manner is easy to implement, and the transmission process ofthe uplink control information may be simplified.

Alternatively, as an embodiment, the maximum bit number of the uplinkcontrol information which can be transmitted by one uplink controlchannel element is N, and the value of N is set to be equal to a presetmaximum bit number of ACK/NACK information corresponding to downlinkdata transmitted in a time unit. Specifically, the time unit may be atime slot.

Alternatively, as an embodiment, the maximum bit number of the uplinkcontrol information which can be transmitted by one uplink controlchannel element is N, and the value of N may be configured by thenetwork device. Specifically, the terminal device may receive thesignaling or indication information transmitted by the network device,and the indication information may be configured to determine the valueof N. For example, the terminal device receives DCI transmitted by thenetwork device, and the DCI includes information indicating the value ofN.

Alternatively, as an embodiment, 110 may include that, the terminaldevice receives multiple pieces of downlink data, each of the multiplepieces of downlink data corresponding to independent ACK/NACKinformation, and the target uplink control information including theACK/NACK information of the multiple pieces of downlink data (or, thetarget uplink control information is the ACK/NACK information of themultiple pieces of downlink data); and for each of the multiple piecesof downlink data, the terminal device determines one or morecorresponding uplink control channel elements (i.e., there may be anuplink control channel element in which ACK/NACK information of a pieceof downlink data can be independently transmitted), to obtain themultiple uplink control channel elements.

It is to be noted that the downlink data in the disclosure may bedownlink shared data and, in some embodiments, may specifically be aPDSCH.

It is to be noted that there are no specific limits made to acorrespondence between multiple pieces of downlink data and uplinkcontrol channel elements in the embodiment of the disclosure.Specifically, each of the multiple pieces of downlink data maycorrespond to at least one of the multiple uplink control channelelements, each of the multiple uplink control channel elements beingconfigured to transmit the ACK/NACK information of the downlink datacorresponding to the uplink control channel element. For example, themultiple pieces of downlink data correspond to the multiple uplinkcontrol channel elements one to one; or, at least two of the multiplepieces of downlink data correspond to one of the multiple uplink controlchannel elements, each of the multiple uplink control channel elementsbeing configured to transmit the ACK/NACK information of the downlinkdata corresponding to the uplink control channel element. For anotherexample, the multiple pieces of downlink data may correspond to oneuplink control channel element.

Alternatively, as an embodiment, the method illustrated in FIG. 1 mayfurther include that, the terminal device determines a number of uplinkcontrol channel elements required for transmission of the target uplinkcontrol information according to the bit number of the target uplinkcontrol information and the maximum bit number of the uplink controlinformation which can be transmitted by one uplink control channelelement.

For example, the terminal device may determine the number of the uplinkcontrol channel elements required for transmission of the target uplinkcontrol information according to K·┌M/N┐, where M represents the bitnumber of the target uplink control information, N represents themaximum bit number of the uplink control information which can betransmitted by one uplink control channel element and K is a positiveinteger greater than or equal to 1.

For another example, the terminal device may determine the number of theuplink control channel elements required for transmission of the targetuplink control information to be (M/N)+1.

Alternatively, as an embodiment, the method illustrated in FIG. 1 mayfurther include that, the terminal device receives indicationinformation transmitted by the network device, the indicationinformation including information for determining the resources occupiedby the multiple uplink control channel elements (or, the indicationinformation including the information for indicating the resourcesoccupied by the multiple uplink control channel elements. For convenientdescription, the information for determining the resources occupied bythe multiple uplink control channel elements is called targetinformation below); and the terminal device determines the resourcesoccupied by the multiple uplink control channel elements according tothe indication information.

The indication information may be, for example, DCI.

It is to be noted that the resources occupied by the uplink controlchannel elements in the disclosure may all be replaced with resourcelocations of the uplink control channel elements. Furthermore, in someembodiments, the resource locations of the uplink control channelelements may include at least one of time-domain resource locations,frequency-domain resource locations, or code-domain sequence indexes ofthe uplink control channel elements.

It is to be understood that the terminal may determine the resourcesoccupied by the multiple uplink control channel elements on the basis ofthe target information in multiple manners. In some embodiments, thetarget information may directly indicate the resources occupied by themultiple uplink control channel elements, for example, the targetinformation may directly indicate time-frequency locations of theresources occupied by the multiple uplink control channel elements, andthe terminal device may directly determine the resources occupied by themultiple uplink control channel elements according to an indication ofthe target information. In some other embodiments, the targetinformation may include a configuration parameter for determining theresources occupied by the multiple uplink control channel elements, andthe terminal device may determine the resources occupied by the multipleuplink control channel elements on the basis of the configurationparameter in a predetermined manner.

Alternatively, as an embodiment, the method illustrated in FIG. 1 mayfurther include that, the terminal device determines a resource occupiedby a first uplink control channel element in the multiple uplink controlchannel elements; and the terminal device determines resources occupiedby the other uplink control channel elements, except the first uplinkcontrol channel element, in the multiple uplink control channel elementsaccording to the resource occupied by the first uplink control channelelement.

It is to be noted that the first uplink control channel element may bean uplink control channel element, or may be two or more than two uplinkcontrol channel resources. Specifically, the first uplink controlchannel element may be some of the multiple uplink control channelelements.

In the embodiment of the disclosure, the resources occupied by the otheruplink control channel elements are determined on the basis of theresource occupied by the first uplink control channel element, theterminal device and the network device may determine the resourcesoccupied by the multiple uplink control channel elements through thesame rule on the basis of the resource occupied by the first uplinkcontrol channel element, and the network device is not required toconfigure the resources for each uplink control channel element, so thatthe transmission process of the uplink control information issimplified.

It is to be noted that the resources occupied by the other uplinkcontrol channel elements may be determined according to the resourceoccupied by the first uplink control channel element in multiplemanners. There are no specific limits made thereto in the embodiment ofthe disclosure. Detailed descriptions will be made below in combinationwith specific embodiments.

Alternatively, in some embodiments, the resources occupied by the otheruplink control channel elements are at least partially the same as theresource occupied by the first uplink control channel element.Specifically, the terminal device may allocate resources for the otheruplink control channel elements, which are same as those for the firstuplink control channel element in terms of one or two of the following:time-domain resources, frequency-domain resources and code-domainresources. For example, the terminal device may allocate a time-domainresource for the other uplink control channel elements, which is thesame as that for the first uplink control channel element, while thefrequency-domain resource(s) and the code-domain resource(s) for theother uplink control channel elements may be different from those forthe first uplink control channel element. For another example, theterminal device may allocate a frequency-domain resource for the otheruplink control channel elements, which is the same as that for the firstuplink control channel element, while the time-domain resource(s) andthe code-domain resource(s) for the other uplink control channelelements may be different from those for the first uplink controlchannel element.

Alternatively, in some embodiments, the operation that the terminaldevice determines the resources occupied by the other uplink controlchannel elements, except the first uplink control channel element, inthe multiple uplink control channel elements according to the resourceoccupied by the first uplink control channel element may include that,the terminal device determines serial numbers of the resources occupiedby the other uplink control channel elements according to a serialnumber of the resource occupied by the first uplink control channelelement; and the terminal device determines the resources occupied bythe other uplink control channel elements according to the serialnumbers of the resources occupied by the other uplink control channelelements.

It is to be noted that the serial number in the embodiment of thedisclosure may also be called an index.

It is also to be noted that the serial numbers of the resources occupiedby the other uplink control channel elements may be determined accordingto the serial number of the resource occupied by the first uplinkcontrol channel element in multiple manners. Detailed descriptions willbe made below.

Alternatively, in some embodiments, the terminal device determines theserial numbers of the resources occupied by the other uplink controlchannel elements according to the serial number of the resource occupiedby the first uplink control channel element and a predefined function.For example, the predefined function is x+i, x represents the serialnumber of the resource occupied by the first uplink control channelelement, and i represents an ith uplink control channel element in theother uplink control channel elements, and the serial number of theresource occupied by the first uplink control channel element may besubstituted into the function to determine the serial numbers of theresources occupied by the other uplink control channel elements. Thepredefined function may also be functions of other forms which will notbe listed herein one by one.

Alternatively, in some embodiments, the terminal device may determinethe serial numbers of the resources occupied by the other uplink controlchannel elements according to the serial number of the resource occupiedby the first uplink control channel element and a predefined offset. Theoffset may be a fixed value, or may be semi-statically configured ordynamically indicated by the network device.

For example, if the serial number of the resource occupied by the firstuplink control channel element is T and the preset offset is 5, theserial numbers of the other uplink control channel elements may beT+5+i, i represents the ith uplink control channel element in themultiple uplink control channel elements. For another example, if theserial number of the resource occupied by the first uplink controlchannel element is T and the preset offset is 5, the serial numbers ofthe other uplink control channel elements may be 2(T+5)+i, i representsthe ith uplink control channel element in the multiple uplink controlchannel elements.

Alternatively, in some embodiments, the terminal device may determinethe serial numbers of the resources occupied by the other uplink controlchannel elements according to the serial number of the resource occupiedby the first uplink control channel element and HARQ timing (or calledHARQ timing) of the other downlink data. The multiple uplink controlchannel elements are configured to transmit the ACK/NACK information ofthe multiple pieces of downlink data respectively, and the otherdownlink data are downlink data, except the downlink data correspondingto the first uplink control channel element, in the multiple pieces ofdownlink data.

It is to be understood that HARQ timing of a piece of downlink data maybe used to indicate a timing relationship between receiving time(receiving time slot or receiving subframe) of the downlink data andfeedback time (feedback time slot or feedback subframe) of ACK/NACKinformation of the downlink data, and the timing relationship may bepredefined by a system.

In the embodiment of the disclosure, the multiple uplink control channelelements may form a one-to-one correspondence with the multiple piecesof downlink data, and each uplink control channel element may beconfigured to feed back the ACK/NACK information of the correspondingdownlink data. Therefore, the other uplink control channel elements mayform a one-to-one correspondence with the other downlink data.

For example, the serial number of the resource occupied by the firstuplink control channel element is T, and ith downlink data in the otherdownlink data corresponds to the ith uplink control channel element inthe other uplink control channel elements. If HARQ timing of the ithdownlink data is n+k, the serial number of the ith uplink controlchannel element in the other uplink control channel elements may be T+k,where n represents a serial number of a receiving subframe of thedownlink data, and k represents a difference between serial numbers of afeedback subframe of the downlink data and the receiving subframe of thedownlink data.

Alternatively, in some embodiments, the terminal device determines theserial numbers of the resources occupied by the other uplink controlchannel elements according to the serial number of the resource occupiedby the first uplink control channel element and sequence numbers of timeunits where the other downlink data are located and/or sequence numbersof carriers where the other downlink data are located. The multipleuplink control channel elements are configured to transmit the ACK/NACKinformation of the multiple pieces of downlink data respectively, andthe other downlink data are downlink data, except the downlink datacorresponding to the first uplink control channel element, in themultiple pieces of downlink data.

In the embodiment of the disclosure, the multiple uplink control channelelements may form the one-to-one correspondence with the multiple piecesof downlink data, and each uplink control channel element may beconfigured to feed back the ACK/NACK information of the correspondingdownlink data. Therefore, the other uplink control channel elements mayform the one-to-one correspondence with the other downlink data.

For example, the serial numbers of the resources occupied by the otheruplink control channel elements may be sums, differences or any othercombinations of the serial number of the resource occupied by the firstuplink control channel element and the sequence numbers of the timeunits where the other downlink data are located and/or the sequencenumbers of the carriers where the other downlink data are located.

Alternatively, in some embodiments, the terminal device determines theserial numbers of the resources occupied by the other uplink controlchannel elements according to the serial number of the resource occupiedby the first uplink control channel element and serial numbers of theother downlink data. The multiple uplink control channel elements areconfigured to transmit the ACK/NACK information of the multiple piecesof downlink data respectively, and the other downlink data are downlinkdata, except the downlink data corresponding to the first uplink controlchannel element, in the multiple pieces of downlink data.

In the embodiment of the disclosure, the multiple uplink control channelelements may form the one-to-one correspondence with the multiple piecesof downlink data, and each uplink control channel element may beconfigured to feed back the ACK/NACK information of the correspondingdownlink data. Therefore, the other uplink control channel elements mayform the one-to-one correspondence with the other downlink data.

For example, the serial numbers of the resources occupied by the otheruplink control channel elements may be sums, differences or any othercombinations of the serial number of the resource occupied by the firstuplink control channel element and the serial numbers of the otherdownlink data.

Alternatively, in some embodiments, the terminal device determines theserial numbers of the resources occupied by the other uplink controlchannel elements according to the serial number of the resource occupiedby the first uplink control channel element and serial numbers of TBs orcoding blocks carried in the other downlink data. The multiple uplinkcontrol channel elements are configured to transmit the ACK/NACKinformation of the multiple pieces of downlink data respectively, andthe other downlink data are downlink data, except the downlink datacorresponding to the first uplink control channel element, in themultiple pieces of downlink data. Specifically, the multiple uplinkcontrol channel elements form the one-to-one correspondence with themultiple pieces of downlink data, and each uplink control channelelement may be configured to feed back the ACK/NACK information of thecorresponding downlink data.

In the embodiment of the disclosure, the multiple uplink control channelelements may form the one-to-one correspondence with the multiple piecesof downlink data, and each uplink control channel element may beconfigured to feed back the ACK/NACK information of the correspondingdownlink data. Therefore, the other uplink control channel elements mayform the one-to-one correspondence with the other downlink data.

For example, the serial numbers of the resources occupied by the otheruplink control channel elements may be sums, differences or any othercombinations of the serial number of the resource occupied by the firstuplink control channel element and the serial numbers of the TBs orcoding blocks carried in the other downlink data.

A manner for determining the resources occupied by the other uplinkcontrol channel elements according to the resource occupied by the firstuplink control channel element is mainly described above. A manner fordetermining the resource occupied by the first uplink control channelelement will be described below in detail.

Alternatively, as an embodiment, the operation that the terminal devicedetermines the resource occupied by the first uplink control channelelement in the multiple uplink control channel elements may includethat, the terminal device determines the resource occupied by the firstuplink control channel element according to the signaling transmitted bythe network device. For example, the terminal receives a PDCCHtransmitted by the network device, the PDCCH containing informationindicating the resource occupied by the first uplink control channelelement.

Alternatively, as an embodiment, the operation that the terminal devicedetermines the resource occupied by the first uplink control channelelement in the multiple uplink control channel elements may includethat, the terminal device determines the resource occupied by the firstuplink control channel element according to an RNTI of the terminaldevice or an ID of the terminal.

For example, the terminal device calculates the serial number of thefirst uplink control channel element through a predefined operation ruleaccording to the RNTI or the ID, and then determines the resourceoccupied by the first uplink control channel element on the basis of theserial number of the first uplink control channel element.

Alternatively, as an embodiment, the operation that the terminal devicedetermines the resource occupied by the first uplink control channelelement in the multiple uplink control channel elements may includethat, the terminal device determines the resource occupied by the firstuplink control channel element according to a serial number of aphysical resource occupied by a downlink control channel correspondingto the first uplink control channel element.

For example, the terminal device calculates the serial number of thefirst uplink control channel element through a predefined operation ruleaccording to serial number of the physical resource occupied by thedownlink control channel, and then determines the resource occupied bythe first uplink control channel element on the basis of the serialnumber of the first uplink control channel element.

The first uplink control channel element may be configured to feed backACK/NACK information of first downlink data, and the downlink controlchannel corresponding to the first uplink control channel element may bea downlink control channel configured to schedule the first downlinkdata.

Alternatively, as an embodiment, the resource occupied by an uplinkcontrol channel element includes at least one of a time-domain resource,a frequency-domain resource, or a code-domain resource. It is to benoted that the code-domain resource occupied by an uplink controlchannel element may be a code-domain sequence adopted when informationin the uplink control channel element is coded.

Alternatively, as an embodiment, the multiple uplink control channelelements are used to repeatedly transmit the target uplink controlinformation.

In the embodiment of the disclosure, the multiple uplink control channelelements are used to repeatedly transmit the target uplink controlinformation, so that transmission reliability of the target uplinkcontrol information may be improved.

For example, the terminal device adopts Q uplink control channelelements to repeatedly transmit P-bit uplink control information in atime unit, where P is not larger than N, each control channel element inthe Q uplink control channel elements carries the same P-bitinformation, Q is larger than 1, P is greater than or equal to 1 and Nrepresents the maximum bit number of the uplink control informationwhich can be transmitted by one uplink control channel element.

Alternatively, as an embodiment, the multiple uplink control channelelements are used together to transmit the target uplink controlinformation, and different uplink control channel elements in themultiple uplink control channel elements are used to transmit differentinformation in the target uplink control information.

For example, the terminal device adopts Q uplink control channelelements to transmit K-bit information in a time unit, and informationcarried in part of channel elements in the Q uplink control channelelements is different from information carried in the other uplinkcontrol channel elements, where K is a positive integer larger than 1, Qis larger than 1 and P is greater than or equal to 1.

The embodiment of the disclosure will be described below in more detailwith the condition that the downlink data is a PDSCH and the time unitis a time slot as an example.

A first scenario: the terminal device firstly determines the sizes ofthe resources occupied by the uplink control channel elements; theterminal device determines that ACK/NACK information corresponding to LPDSCHs is required to be fed back in a target time slot, each uplinkcontrol channel element being configured to feed back ACK/NACKinformation corresponding to one PDSCH and L being larger than 1; andthe terminal device determines that L uplink control channel elementsare required to transmit the uplink control information in a slot.

Specifically, as illustrated in FIG. 2b , the terminal device determinesthat the length of the time-domain resources occupied by the uplinkcontrol channel elements is one OFDM symbol, and the length of thefrequency-domain resources is a frequency-domain resource lengthcorresponding to one RB, for example, 12 subcarriers. The terminaldevice receives the DCI, the DCI schedules the terminal to receive thePDSCHs, and the DCI further indicates a resource location (time-domainlocation, frequency-domain location and code-domain sequence index) ofthe uplink control channel element for transmitting an ACK/NACKcorresponding to the present PDSCH.

A second scenario: the terminal device firstly determines the sizes ofthe resources occupied by the uplink control channel elements; theterminal device determines the maximum bit number N of the uplinkcontrol information which can be transmitted by one uplink controlchannel element and determines the bit number of the target uplinkcontrol information to be transmitted; and the terminal devicedetermines the number of the uplink control channel elements requiredfor transmission of the target uplink control information according to┌M/N┐,

Specifically, the terminal device determines that the length of thetime-domain resources occupied by the uplink control channel elements isone OFDM symbol and the length of the frequency-domain resources is afrequency-domain resource length corresponding to one RB, for example,12 subcarriers. There is made such a hypothesis that an uplink controlchannel element carry at most 2-bit information. If the terminal isrequired to feed back 10-bit CSI in the target time slot, the terminaldevice determines to adopt five uplink control channel elements totransmit the 10-bit CSI. If the terminal is required to feed back 15-bitCSI in the target time slot, the terminal determines to adopt eightuplink control channel elements to transmit the 15-bit CSI.

The uplink control information transmission method of the embodiments ofthe disclosure is described above in combination with FIG. 1 to FIG. 2bin detail from the view of the terminal device. The uplink controlinformation transmission method of the embodiments of the disclosurewill be described below in combination with FIG. 3 in detail from theview of the network device. It is to be understood that descriptionsmade on a network device side correspond to descriptions made on aterminal device side and similar contents may be seen from the above andwill not be elaborated herein.

FIG. 3 is a schematic flowchart of a method for uplink controlinformation transmission according to an embodiment of the disclosure.The method illustrated in FIG. 3 includes the following actions.

In 310, a network device determines multiple uplink control channelelements for transmitting target uplink control information. Themultiple uplink control channel elements are within the same target timeunit in time domain, and each of the multiple uplink control channelelements may be capable of independently transmitting the uplink controlinformation.

In 320, the network device receives, in the target time unit, the targetuplink control information transmitted by a terminal device through themultiple uplink control channel elements.

In the embodiment of the disclosure, uplink control information istransmitted between the terminal device and the network device by takingan uplink control channel element as a unit, and in a transmissionprocess of the target uplink control information, the terminal devicemay determine the number of the uplink control channel elements to beused according to the target uplink control information, and thentransmit the target uplink control information by use of the determineduplink control channel elements. In other words, the terminal device mayflexibly select uplink resources required for transmission of the targetuplink control information according to a practical condition, so thattransmission flexibility of the uplink control information is improved.For example, an uplink control channel element may correspond to anuplink control channel format with a low capacity, and the terminaldevice may flexibly extend the transmission resources for the uplinkcontrol information by taking the uplink control channel element as theunit according to a practical requirement, so that the transmissionflexibility of the uplink control information is improved.

Alternatively, in some embodiments, before 310, the method illustratedin FIG. 3 may further include that, the network device determines theuplink control channel elements. For example, at least one of thefollowing information of the uplink control channel elements isdetermined: a length of time-domain resources occupied by the uplinkcontrol channel elements, a length of frequency-domain resourcesoccupied by the uplink control channel elements, the maximum bit numberof uplink control information which can be transmitted by the uplinkcontrol channel element and the like.

Alternatively, in some embodiments, before 310, the method illustratedin FIG. 3 may further include that, the network device determines thetarget uplink control information to be transmitted in the target timeunit. Specifically, the target uplink control information may includethe ACK/NACK information corresponding to the downlink data, and theterminal device may determine the ACK/NACK information required to betransmitted in the target time unit according to the amount of receivedtarget downlink data. The ACK/NACK information corresponding to thetarget downlink data is required to be transmitted in the target timeunit.

Alternatively, in some embodiments, a length of time-domain resourcesoccupied by the uplink control channel elements is equal to a length oftime-domain resources occupied by a number A of OFDM symbols, and alength of frequency-domain resources occupied by the uplink controlchannel elements is equal to a length of frequency-domain resourcesoccupied by a number B of RBs, both A and B being positive integersgreater than or equal to 1.

Alternatively, in some embodiments, the method illustrated in FIG. 3 mayfurther include that, the network device determines the length of thetime-domain resources and/or frequency-domain resources occupied by theuplink control channel elements according to a rule specified by aprotocol.

Alternatively, in some embodiments, the method illustrated in FIG. 3 mayfurther include that, the network device configures the length of thetime-domain resources and/or frequency-domain resources occupied by theuplink control channel elements.

Alternatively, in some embodiments, the maximum bit number of the uplinkcontrol information which can be transmitted by one uplink controlchannel element is N, and a value of N is set in one of the followingmanners.

A value of N is set to be 2.

The value of N is set to be equal to a preset maximum bit number ofACK/NACK information corresponding to downlink data transmitted in atime unit.

The value of N is configured by the network device.

Alternatively, in some embodiments, 310 may include that, the networkdevice transmits multiple pieces of downlink data to the terminaldevice, each of the multiple pieces of downlink data corresponding toindependent ACK/NACK information, and the target uplink controlinformation including the ACK/NACK information of the multiple pieces ofdownlink data; and for each of the multiple pieces of downlink data, thenetwork device determines one or more corresponding uplink controlchannel elements, to obtain the multiple uplink control channelelements.

Alternatively, in some embodiments, each of the multiple pieces ofdownlink data corresponds to at least one of the multiple uplink controlchannel elements, each of the multiple uplink control channel elementsis configured to transmit the ACK/NACK information of the downlink datacorresponding to the uplink control channel element.

Alternatively, in some embodiments, the method illustrated in FIG. 3 mayfurther include that, the network device determines a number of uplinkcontrol channel elements required for transmission of the target uplinkcontrol information according to the bit number of the target uplinkcontrol information and the maximum bit number of the uplink controlinformation which can be transmitted by one uplink control channelelement.

Alternatively, in some embodiments, the operation that the networkdevice determines the number of the uplink control channel elementsrequired for transmission of the target uplink control informationaccording to the bit number of the target uplink control information andthe maximum bit number of the uplink control information which can betransmitted by one uplink control channel element includes that, thenetwork device determines the number of the uplink control channelelements required for transmission of the target uplink controlinformation according to K·┌M/N┐, where M may represent the bit numberof the target uplink control information, N may represent the maximumbit number of the uplink control information which can be transmitted byone uplink control channel element, and K may be a positive integergreater than or equal to 1.

Alternatively, in some embodiments, the method illustrated in FIG. 3 mayfurther include that, the network device generates indicationinformation, the indication information including information fordetermining the resources occupied by the multiple uplink controlchannel elements; and the network device transmits the indicationinformation to the terminal device.

Alternatively, in some embodiments, the indication information is DCI.

Alternatively, in some embodiments, the method illustrated in FIG. 3 mayfurther include that, the network device determines a resource occupiedby a first uplink control channel element in the multiple uplink controlchannel elements; and the network device determines resources occupiedby the other uplink control channel elements, except the first uplinkcontrol channel element, in the multiple uplink control channel elementsaccording to the resource occupied by the first uplink control channelelement.

Alternatively, in some embodiments, the operation that the networkdevice determines the resources occupied by the other uplink controlchannel elements, except the first uplink control channel element, inthe multiple uplink control channel elements according to the resourceoccupied by the first uplink control channel element may include that,the network device determines serial numbers of the resources occupiedby the other uplink control channel elements according to a serialnumber of the resource occupied by the first uplink control channelelement; and the network device determines the resources occupied by theother uplink control channel elements according to the serial numbers ofthe resources occupied by the other uplink control channel elements.

Alternatively, in some embodiments, the operation that the networkdevice determines the resources occupied by the other uplink controlchannel elements according to the serial numbers of the resourcesoccupied by the other uplink control channel elements may include one ofthe following operations.

The network device determines the serial numbers of the resourcesoccupied by the other uplink control channel elements according to theserial number of the resource occupied by the first uplink controlchannel element and a predefined function.

The network device determines the serial numbers of the resourcesoccupied by the other uplink control channel elements according to theserial number of the resource occupied by the first uplink controlchannel element and a preset offset.

The network device determines the serial numbers of the resourcesoccupied by the other uplink control channel elements according to theserial number of the resource occupied by the first uplink controlchannel element and HARQ timing of the other downlink data, the multipleuplink control channel elements being configured to transmit theACK/NACK information of the multiple pieces of downlink datarespectively, and the other downlink data being downlink data, exceptthe downlink data corresponding to the first uplink control channelelement, in the multiple pieces of downlink data.

The network device determines the serial numbers of the resourcesoccupied by the other uplink control channel elements according to theserial number of the resource occupied by the first uplink controlchannel element and sequence numbers of time units where the otherdownlink data are located and/or sequence numbers of carriers where theother downlink data are located, the multiple uplink control channelelements being configured to transmit the ACK/NACK information of themultiple pieces of downlink data respectively, and the other downlinkdata being downlink data, except the downlink data corresponding to thefirst uplink control channel element, in the multiple pieces of downlinkdata.

The network device determines the serial numbers of the resourcesoccupied by the other uplink control channel elements according to theserial number of the resource occupied by the first uplink controlchannel element and serial numbers of the other downlink data, themultiple uplink control channel elements being configured to transmitthe ACK/NACK information of the multiple pieces of downlink datarespectively, and the other downlink data being downlink data, exceptthe downlink data corresponding to the first uplink control channelelement, in the multiple pieces of downlink data.

The network device determines the serial numbers of the resourcesoccupied by the other uplink control channel elements according to theserial number of the resource occupied by the first uplink controlchannel element and serial numbers of TBs or coding blocks carried inthe other downlink data, the multiple uplink control channel elementsbeing configured to transmit the ACK/NACK information of the multiplepieces of downlink data respectively, and the other downlink data beingdownlink data, except the downlink data corresponding to the firstuplink control channel element, in the multiple pieces of downlink data.

Alternatively, in some embodiments, the resources occupied by the otheruplink control channel elements are at least partially the same as theresource occupied by the first uplink control channel element.

Alternatively, in some embodiments, the operation that the networkdevice determines the resource occupied by the first uplink controlchannel element in the multiple uplink control channel elements includesone of the following operations.

The network device configures the resource occupied by the first uplinkcontrol channel element.

The network device determines the resource occupied by the first uplinkcontrol channel element according to an RNTI of the terminal device oran ID of the terminal.

The network device determines the resource occupied by the first uplinkcontrol channel element according to a serial number of a physicalresource occupied by a downlink control channel corresponding to thefirst uplink control channel element.

Alternatively, in some embodiments, the resource occupied by an uplinkcontrol channel element includes at least one of a time-domain resource,a frequency-domain resource, or a code-domain resource.

Alternatively, in some embodiments, the multiple uplink control channelelements are used to repeatedly transmit the target uplink controlinformation.

Alternatively, in some embodiments, the multiple uplink control channelelements are used together to transmit the target uplink controlinformation, and different uplink control channel elements in themultiple uplink control channel elements are used to transmit differentinformation in the target uplink control information.

Alternatively, in some embodiments, the time unit is a time slot.

The method embodiments of the disclosure are described above incombination with FIG. 1 to FIG. 3 in detail and device embodiments ofthe disclosure will be described below in combination with FIG. 4 toFIG. 7 in detail. It is to be understood that the device embodimentscorrespond to the method embodiments and similar descriptions may be themethod embodiments.

FIG. 4 is a schematic structure diagram of a terminal device accordingto an embodiment of the disclosure. The terminal device 400 illustratedin FIG. 4 includes a first determination module 410 and a transmittingmodule 420.

The first determination module 410 may be configured to determinemultiple uplink control channel elements for transmitting target uplinkcontrol information. The multiple uplink control channel elements may bewithin the same target time unit in time domain, and each of themultiple uplink control channel elements may be capable of independentlytransmitting the uplink control information.

The transmitting module 420 may be configured to transmit, in the targettime unit, the target uplink control information to a network devicethrough the multiple uplink control channel elements.

Alternatively, in some embodiments, a length of time-domain resourcesoccupied by an uplink control channel element is equal to a length oftime-domain resources occupied by a number A of OFDM symbols, and alength of frequency-domain resources occupied by the uplink controlchannel element is equal to a length of frequency-domain resourcesoccupied by a number B of RBs, both A and B being positive integersgreater than or equal to 1.

Alternatively, in some embodiments, the terminal device 400 may furtherinclude a second determination module, configured to determine thelength of the time-domain resources and/or frequency-domain resourcesoccupied by the uplink control channel elements according to a rulespecified by a protocol.

Alternatively, in some embodiments, the terminal device 400 may furtherinclude a third determination module, configured to determine the lengthof the time-domain resources and/or frequency-domain resources occupiedby the uplink control channel elements according to signalingtransmitted by the network device.

Alternatively, in some embodiments, the maximum bit number of uplinkcontrol information which can be transmitted by one uplink controlchannel element is N, and a value of N is set in one of the followingmanners: setting the value of N to be 2; the value of N is set to beequal to a preset maximum bit number of ACK/NACK informationcorresponding to downlink data transmitted in a time unit; and the valueof N is configured by the network device.

Alternatively, in some embodiments, the first determination module 410may specifically be configured to receive multiple pieces of downlinkdata, each of the multiple pieces of downlink data corresponding toindependent ACK/NACK information and the target uplink controlinformation including the ACK/NACK information of the multiple pieces ofdownlink data. And the first determination module is configured to, foreach of the multiple pieces of downlink data, determine one or morecorresponding uplink control channel elements, to obtain the multipleuplink control channel elements.

Alternatively, in some embodiments, each of the multiple pieces ofdownlink data corresponds to at least one of the multiple uplink controlchannel elements, each of the multiple uplink control channel elementsbeing configured to transmit the ACK/NACK information of the downlinkdata corresponding to the uplink control channel element.

Alternatively, in some embodiments, the terminal device 400 may furtherinclude a fourth determination module, configured to determine a numberof uplink control channel elements required for transmission of thetarget uplink control information according to the bit number of thetarget uplink control information and the maximum bit number of theuplink control information which can be transmitted by one uplinkcontrol channel element.

Alternatively, in some embodiments, the fourth determination module isspecifically configured to determine the number of the uplink controlchannel elements required for transmission of the target uplink controlinformation according to K·┌M/N┐, where M represents the bit number ofthe target uplink control information, N represents the maximum bitnumber of the uplink control information which can be transmitted by oneuplink control channel element, and K is a positive integer greater thanor equal to 1.

Alternatively, in some embodiments, the terminal device 400 may furtherincludes a first receiving module, configured to receive indicationinformation transmitted by the network device, the indicationinformation including information for determining the resources occupiedby the multiple uplink control channel elements; and a fifthdetermination module, configured to determine the resources occupied bythe multiple uplink control channel elements according to the indicationinformation.

Alternatively, in some embodiments, the indication information is DCI.

Alternatively, in some embodiments, the terminal device 400 may furtherinclude a sixth determination module, configured to determine a resourceoccupied by a first uplink control channel element in the multipleuplink control channel elements; and a seventh determination module,configured to determine resources occupied by the other uplink controlchannel elements, except the first uplink control channel element, inthe multiple uplink control channel elements according to the resourceoccupied by the first uplink control channel element.

Alternatively, in some embodiments, the seventh determination module mayspecifically be configured to determine serial numbers of the resourcesoccupied by the other uplink control channel elements according to aserial number of the resource occupied by the first uplink controlchannel element, and determine the resources occupied by the otheruplink control channel elements according to the serial numbers of theresources occupied by the other uplink control channel elements.

Alternatively, in some embodiments, the seventh determination module mayspecifically be configured to determine the serial numbers of theresources occupied by the other uplink control channel elementsaccording to the serial number of the resource occupied by the firstuplink control channel element and a predefined function; or, determinethe serial numbers of the resources occupied by the other uplink controlchannel elements according to the serial number of the resource occupiedby the first uplink control channel element and a preset offset. Or, theseventh determination module is specifically configured to determine theserial numbers of the resources occupied by the other uplink controlchannel elements according to the serial number of the resource occupiedby the first uplink control channel element and HARQ timing of the otherdownlink data, the multiple uplink control channel elements beingconfigured to transmit the ACK/NACK information of the multiple piecesof downlink data respectively and the other downlink data being thedownlink data, except the downlink data corresponding to the firstuplink control channel element, in the multiple pieces of downlink data.Or, the seventh determination module is specifically configured todetermine the serial numbers of the resources occupied by the otheruplink control channel elements according to the serial number of theresource occupied by the first uplink control channel element andsequence numbers of time units where the other downlink data are locatedand/or sequence numbers of carriers where the other downlink data arelocated, the multiple uplink control channel elements being configuredto transmit the ACK/NACK information of the multiple pieces of downlinkdata respectively, and the other downlink data being the downlink data,except the downlink data corresponding to the first uplink controlchannel element, in the multiple pieces of downlink data. Or, theseventh determination module is specifically configured to determine theserial numbers of the resources occupied by the other uplink controlchannel elements according to the serial number of the resource occupiedby the first uplink control channel element and serial numbers of theother downlink data, the multiple uplink control channel elements beingconfigured to transmit the ACK/NACK information of the multiple piecesof downlink data respectively, and the other downlink data being thedownlink data, except the downlink data corresponding to the firstuplink control channel element, in the multiple pieces of downlink data.Or, the seventh determination module is specifically configured todetermine the serial numbers of the resources occupied by the otheruplink control channel elements according to the serial number of theresource occupied by the first uplink control channel element and serialnumbers of TBs or coding blocks carried in the other downlink data, themultiple uplink control channel elements being configured to transmitthe ACK/NACK information of the multiple pieces of downlink datarespectively, and the downlink data being the downlink data, except thedownlink data corresponding to the first uplink control channel element,in the multiple pieces of downlink data.

Alternatively, in some embodiments, the resources occupied by the otheruplink control channel elements are at least partially the same as theresource occupied by the first uplink control channel element.

Alternatively, in some embodiments, the sixth determination module isspecifically configured to determine the resource occupied by the firstuplink control channel element according to the signaling transmitted bythe network device. Or, the sixth determination module is specificallyconfigured to determine the resource occupied by the first uplinkcontrol channel element according to an RNTI of the terminal device 400or an ID of the terminal. Or, the sixth determination module isspecifically configured to determine the resource occupied by the firstuplink control channel element according to a serial number of aphysical resource occupied by a downlink control channel correspondingto the first uplink control channel element.

Alternatively, in some embodiments, the resource occupied by an uplinkcontrol channel element includes at least one of a time-domain resource,a frequency-domain resource, or a code-domain resource.

Alternatively, in some embodiments, the multiple uplink control channelelements are used to repeatedly transmit the target uplink controlinformation.

Alternatively, in some embodiments, the multiple uplink control channelelements are used together to transmit the target uplink controlinformation, and different uplink control channel elements in themultiple uplink control channel elements are used to transmit differentinformation in the target uplink control information.

Alternatively, in some embodiments, the time unit is a time slot.

FIG. 5 is a schematic structure diagram of a network device according toan embodiment of the disclosure. The network device 500 illustrated inFIG. 5 includes a first determination module 510 and a receiving module520.

The first determination module 510 may be configured to determinemultiple uplink control channel elements for transmitting target uplinkcontrol information. The multiple uplink control channel elements may bewithin the same target time unit in time domain and each of the multipleuplink control channel elements may be capable of independentlytransmitting the uplink control information.

The receiving module 520 may be configured to receive, in the targettime, the target uplink control information transmitted by a terminaldevice unit through the multiple uplink control channel elements.

Alternatively, in some embodiments, a length of time-domain resourcesoccupied by an uplink control channel element is equal to a length oftime-domain resources occupied by a number A of OFDM symbols, and alength of frequency-domain resources occupied by the uplink controlchannel element is equal to a length of frequency-domain resourcesoccupied by a number B of RBs, both of A and B being positive integersgreater than or equal to 1.

Alternatively, in some embodiments, the network device 500 furtherincludes a second determination module, configured to determine thelength of the time-domain resources and/or frequency-domain resourcesoccupied by the uplink control channel elements according to a rulespecified by a protocol.

Alternatively, in some embodiments, the network device 500 furtherincludes a third determination module, configured to configure thelength of the time-domain resources and/or frequency-domain resourcesoccupied by the uplink control channel elements according to signalingtransmitted by the network device 500.

Alternatively, in some embodiments, the maximum bit number of uplinkcontrol information which can be transmitted by one uplink controlchannel element is N, and a value of N is set in one of the followingmanners: the value of N is set to be 2; the value of N is set to beequal to a preset maximum bit number of ACK/NACK informationcorresponding to downlink data transmitted in a time unit; and the valueof N is configured by the network device 500.

Alternatively, in some embodiments, the first determination module 510is specifically configured to transmit multiple pieces of downlink datato the terminal device, each of the multiple pieces of downlink datacorresponding to independent ACK/NACK information, and the target uplinkcontrol information including the ACK/NACK information of the multiplepieces of downlink data. And the first determination module 510 isfurther configured to determine uplink control channel elementscorresponding to the multiple pieces of downlink data respectively toobtain the multiple uplink control channel elements.

Alternatively, in some embodiments, each of the multiple pieces ofdownlink data corresponds to at least one of the multiple uplink controlchannel elements, each of the multiple uplink control channel elementsbeing configured to transmit the ACK/NACK information of the downlinkdata corresponding to the uplink control channel element.

Alternatively, in some embodiments, the network device 500 furtherincludes a fourth determination module, configured to determine a numberof uplink control channel elements required for transmission of thetarget uplink control information according to the bit number of thetarget uplink control information and the maximum bit number of theuplink control information which can be transmitted by one uplinkcontrol channel element.

Alternatively, in some embodiments, the fourth determination module isspecifically configured to determine the number of the uplink controlchannel elements required for transmission of the target uplink controlinformation according to K·┌M/N┐, where M represents the bit number ofthe target uplink control information, N represents the maximum bitnumber of the uplink control information which can be transmitted by oneuplink control channel element and K is a positive integer greater thanor equal to 1.

Alternatively, in some embodiments, the network device 500 furtherincludes: a generation module, configured to generate indicationinformation, the indication information including information forindicating the resources occupied by the multiple uplink control channelelements; and a transmitting module, configured to transmit theindication information to the terminal device.

Alternatively, in some embodiments, the indication information is DCI.

Alternatively, in some embodiments, the network device 500 furtherincludes a fifth determination module, configured to determine aresource occupied by a first uplink control channel element in themultiple uplink control channel elements; and a sixth determinationmodule, configured to determine resources occupied by the other uplinkcontrol channel elements, except the first uplink control channelelement, in the multiple uplink control channel elements according tothe resource occupied by the first uplink control channel element.

Alternatively, in some embodiments, the sixth determination module isspecifically configured to determine serial numbers of the resourcesoccupied by the other uplink control channel elements according to aserial number of the resource occupied by the first uplink controlchannel element, and determine the resources occupied by the otheruplink control channel elements according to the serial numbers of theresources occupied by the other uplink control channel elements.

Alternatively, in some embodiments, the sixth determination module isspecifically configured to determine the serial numbers of the resourcesoccupied by the other uplink control channel elements according to theserial number of the resource occupied by the first uplink controlchannel element and a predefined function; or, determine the serialnumbers of the resources occupied by the other uplink control channelelements according to the serial number of the resource occupied by thefirst uplink control channel element and a preset offset. Or, the sixthdetermination module is specifically configured to determine the serialnumbers of the resources occupied by the other uplink control channelelements according to the serial number of the resource occupied by thefirst uplink control channel element and HARQ timing of the otherdownlink data, the multiple uplink control channel elements beingconfigured to transmit the ACK/NACK information of the multiple piecesof downlink data respectively, and the other downlink data being thedownlink data, except the downlink data corresponding to the firstuplink control channel element, in the multiple pieces of downlink data.Or, the sixth determination module is specifically configured todetermine the serial numbers of the resources occupied by the otheruplink control channel elements according to the serial number of theresource occupied by the first uplink control channel element andsequence numbers of time units where the other downlink data are locatedand/or sequence numbers of carriers where the other downlink data arelocated, the multiple uplink control channel elements being configuredto transmit the ACK/NACK information of the multiple pieces of downlinkdata respectively and the other downlink data being the downlink data,except the downlink data corresponding to the first uplink controlchannel element, in the multiple pieces of downlink data. Or, the sixthdetermination module is specifically configured to determine the serialnumbers of the resources occupied by the other uplink control channelelements according to the serial number of the resource occupied by thefirst uplink control channel element and serial numbers of the otherdownlink data, the multiple uplink control channel elements beingconfigured to transmit the ACK/NACK information of the multiple piecesof downlink data respectively, and the other downlink data being thedownlink data, except the downlink data corresponding to the firstuplink control channel element, in the multiple pieces of downlink data.Or, the sixth determination module is specifically configured todetermine the serial numbers of the resources occupied by the otheruplink control channel elements according to the serial number of theresource occupied by the first uplink control channel element and serialnumbers of TBs or coding blocks carried in the other downlink data, themultiple uplink control channel elements being configured to transmitthe ACK/NACK information of the multiple pieces of downlink datarespectively, and the downlink data being the downlink data, except thedownlink data corresponding to the first uplink control channel element,in the multiple pieces of downlink data.

Alternatively, in some embodiments, the resources occupied by the otheruplink control channel elements are at least partially the same as theresource occupied by the first uplink control channel element.

Alternatively, in some embodiments, the fifth determination module isspecifically configured to configure the resource occupied by the firstuplink control channel element. Or, the fifth determination module isspecifically configured to determine the resource occupied by the firstuplink control channel element according to an RNTI of the terminaldevice or an ID of the terminal. Or, the fifth determination module isspecifically configured to determine the resource occupied by the firstuplink control channel element according to a serial number of aphysical resource occupied by a downlink control channel correspondingto the first uplink control channel element.

Alternatively, in some embodiments, the resource occupied by an uplinkcontrol channel element includes at least one of a time-domain resource,a frequency-domain resource, or a code-domain resource.

Alternatively, in some embodiments, the multiple uplink control channelelements are used to repeatedly transmit the target uplink controlinformation.

Alternatively, in some embodiments, the multiple uplink control channelelements are used together to transmit the target uplink controlinformation, and different uplink control channel elements in themultiple uplink control channel elements are used to transmit differentinformation in the target uplink control information.

Alternatively, in some embodiments, the time unit is a time slot.

FIG. 6 is a schematic structure diagram of a terminal device accordingto an embodiment of the disclosure. The terminal device 600 illustratedin FIG. 6 includes a processor 610 and a transceiver 620.

The processor 610 may be configured to determine multiple uplink controlchannel elements for transmitting target uplink control information. Themultiple uplink control channel elements may be within the same targettime unit in time domain, and each of the multiple uplink controlchannel elements may be capable of independently transmitting the uplinkcontrol information.

The transceiver 620 may be configured to transmit, in the target timeunit, the target uplink control information to a network device throughthe multiple uplink control channel elements.

Alternatively, in some embodiments, a length of time-domain resourcesoccupied by an uplink control channel element is equal to a length oftime-domain resources occupied by a number A of OFDM symbols, and alength of frequency-domain resources occupied by the uplink controlchannel element is equal to a length of frequency-domain resourcesoccupied by a number B of RBs, both A and B being positive integersgreater than or equal to 1.

Alternatively, in some embodiments, the processor 610 may specificallybe configured to determine the length of the time-domain resourcesand/or frequency-domain resources occupied by the uplink control channelelements according to a rule specified by a protocol.

Alternatively, in some embodiments, the processor 610 may specificallybe configured to determine the length of the time-domain resourcesand/or frequency-domain resources occupied by the uplink control channelelements according to signaling transmitted by the network device.

Alternatively, in some embodiments, the maximum bit number of uplinkcontrol information which can be transmitted by one uplink controlchannel element is N, and a value of N is set in one of the followingmanners: the value of N is set to be 2; the value of N is set to beequal to a preset maximum bit number of ACK/NACK informationcorresponding to downlink data transmitted in a time unit; and the valueof N is configured by the network device.

Alternatively, in some embodiments, the transceiver 620 may specificallybe configured to receive multiple pieces of downlink data, each of themultiple pieces of downlink data corresponding to independent ACK/NACKinformation, and the target uplink control information including theACK/NACK information of the multiple pieces of downlink data. And thetransceiver 620 is further configured to determine uplink controlchannel elements corresponding to the multiple pieces of downlink datarespectively to obtain the multiple uplink control channel elements.

Alternatively, in some embodiments, each of the multiple pieces ofdownlink data corresponds to at least one of the multiple uplink controlchannel elements, each of the multiple uplink control channel elementsbeing configured to transmit the ACK/NACK information of the downlinkdata corresponding to the uplink control channel element.

Alternatively, in some embodiments, the processor 610 may specificallybe configured to determine a number of uplink control channel elementsrequired for transmission of the target uplink control informationaccording to the bit number of the target uplink control information andthe maximum bit number of the uplink control information which can betransmitted by one uplink control channel element.

Alternatively, in some embodiments, the processor 610 may specificallybe configured to determine the number of the uplink control channelelements required for transmission of the target uplink controlinformation according to K·┌M/N┐, where M represents the bit number ofthe target uplink control information, N represents the maximum bitnumber of the uplink control information which can be transmitted by oneuplink control channel element, and K is a positive integer greater thanor equal to 1.

Alternatively, in some embodiments, the transceiver 620 is furtherconfigured to receive indication information transmitted by the networkdevice, the indication information including information for indicatingthe resources occupied by the multiple uplink control channel elements;and the processor 610 is further configured to determine the resourcesoccupied by the multiple uplink control channel elements according tothe indication information.

Alternatively, in some embodiments, the indication information is DCI.

Alternatively, in some embodiments, the processor 610 is furtherconfigured to determine a resource occupied by a first uplink controlchannel element in the multiple uplink control channel elements anddetermine resources occupied by the other uplink control channelelements, except the first uplink control channel element, in themultiple uplink control channel elements according to the resourceoccupied by the first uplink control channel element.

Alternatively, in some embodiments, the processor 610 may specificallybe configured to determine serial numbers of the resources occupied bythe other uplink control channel elements according to a serial numberof the resource occupied by the first uplink control channel element anddetermine the resources occupied by the other uplink control channelelements according to the serial numbers of the resources occupied bythe other uplink control channel elements.

Alternatively, in some embodiments, the processor 610 may specificallybe configured to determine the serial numbers of the resources occupiedby the other uplink control channel elements according to the serialnumber of the resource occupied by the first uplink control channelelement and a predefined function. Or, the processor 610 mayspecifically be configured to determine the serial numbers of theresources occupied by the other uplink control channel elementsaccording to the serial number of the resource occupied by the firstuplink control channel element and a preset offset. Or, the processor610 may specifically be configured to determine the serial numbers ofthe resources occupied by the other uplink control channel elementsaccording to the serial number of the resource occupied by the firstuplink control channel element and HARQ timing of the other downlinkdata, the multiple uplink control channel elements being configured totransmit the ACK/NACK information of the multiple pieces of downlinkdata respectively, and the other downlink data being the downlink data,except the downlink data corresponding to the first uplink controlchannel element, in the multiple pieces of downlink data. Or, theprocessor 610 may specifically be configured to determine the serialnumbers of the resources occupied by the other uplink control channelelements according to the serial number of the resource occupied by thefirst uplink control channel element and sequence numbers of time unitswhere the other downlink data are located and/or sequence numbers ofcarriers where the other downlink data are located, the multiple uplinkcontrol channel elements being configured to transmit the ACK/NACKinformation of the multiple pieces of downlink data respectively, andthe other downlink data being the downlink data, except the downlinkdata corresponding to the first uplink control channel element, in themultiple pieces of downlink data. Or, the processor 610 may specificallybe configured to determine the serial numbers of the resources occupiedby the other uplink control channel elements according to the serialnumber of the resource occupied by the first uplink control channelelement and serial numbers of the other downlink data, the multipleuplink control channel elements being configured to transmit theACK/NACK information of the multiple pieces of downlink datarespectively, and the other downlink data being the downlink data,except the downlink data corresponding to the first uplink controlchannel element, in the multiple pieces of downlink data. Or, theprocessor 610 may specifically be configured to determine the serialnumbers of the resources occupied by the other uplink control channelelements according to the serial number of the resource occupied by thefirst uplink control channel element and serial numbers of TBs or codingblocks carried in the other downlink data, the multiple uplink controlchannel elements being configured to transmit the ACK/NACK informationof the multiple pieces of downlink data respectively, and the downlinkdata being the downlink data, except the downlink data corresponding tothe first uplink control channel element, in the multiple pieces ofdownlink data.

Alternatively, in some embodiments, the resources occupied by the otheruplink control channel elements are at least partially the same as theresource occupied by the first uplink control channel element.

Alternatively, in some embodiments, the processor 610 may specificallybe configured to determine the resource occupied by the first uplinkcontrol channel element according to the signaling transmitted by thenetwork device. Or, the processor 610 may specifically be configured todetermine the resource occupied by the first uplink control channelelement according to an RNTI of the terminal device 600 or an ID of theterminal. Or, the processor 610 may specifically be configured todetermine the resource occupied by the first uplink control channelelement according to a serial number of a physical resource occupied bya downlink control channel corresponding to the first uplink controlchannel element.

Alternatively, in some embodiments, the resource occupied by an uplinkcontrol channel element includes at least one of a time-domain resource,a frequency-domain resource, or a code-domain resource.

Alternatively, in some embodiments, the multiple uplink control channelelements are used to repeatedly transmit the target uplink controlinformation.

Alternatively, in some embodiments, the multiple uplink control channelelements are used together to transmit the target uplink controlinformation, and different uplink control channel elements in themultiple uplink control channel elements are used to transmit differentinformation in the target uplink control information.

Alternatively, in some embodiments, the time unit is a time slot.

FIG. 7 is a schematic structure diagram of a network device according toan embodiment of the disclosure. The network device 700 illustrated inFIG. 7 includes a processor 710 and a transceiver 720.

The processor 710 may be configured to determine multiple uplink controlchannel elements for transmitting target uplink control information. Themultiple uplink control channel elements may be within the same targettime unit in time domain, and each of the multiple uplink controlchannel elements may be capable of independently transmitting the uplinkcontrol information.

The transceiver 720 may be configured to receive, in the target timeunit, the target uplink control information transmitted by a terminaldevice through the multiple uplink control channel elements.

Alternatively, in some embodiments, a length of time-domain resourcesoccupied by an uplink control channel element is equal to a length oftime-domain resources occupied by a number A of OFDM symbols, and alength of frequency-domain resources occupied by the uplink controlchannel element is equal to a length of frequency-domain resourcesoccupied by a number B of RBs, both A and B being positive integersgreater than or equal to 1.

Alternatively, in some embodiments, the processor 710 is furtherconfigured to determine the length of the time-domain resources and/orfrequency-domain resources occupied by the uplink control channelelements according to a rule specified by a protocol.

Alternatively, in some embodiments, the processor 710 is furtherconfigured to determine the length of the time-domain resources and/orfrequency-domain resources occupied by the uplink control channelelements according to signaling transmitted by the network device 700.

Alternatively, in some embodiments, the maximum bit number of uplinkcontrol information which can be transmitted by one uplink controlchannel element is N, and a value of N is set in one of the followingmanners: the value of N is set to be 2; the value of N is set to beequal to a preset maximum bit number of ACK/NACK informationcorresponding to downlink data transmitted in a time unit; and the valueof N is configured by the network device 700.

Alternatively, in some embodiments, the processor 710 may specificallybe configured to transmit multiple pieces of downlink data to theterminal device, each of the multiple pieces of downlink datacorresponding to independent ACK/NACK information and the target uplinkcontrol information including the ACK/NACK information of the multiplepieces of downlink data, and, for each of the multiple pieces ofdownlink data, determine one or more corresponding uplink controlchannel elements, to obtain the multiple uplink control channelelements.

Alternatively, in some embodiments, each of the multiple pieces ofdownlink data corresponds to at least one of the multiple uplink controlchannel elements, each of the multiple uplink control channel elementsbeing configured to transmit the ACK/NACK information of the downlinkdata corresponding to the uplink control channel element.

Alternatively, in some embodiments, the processor 710 is furtherconfigured to determine a number of uplink control channel elementsrequired for transmission of the target uplink control informationaccording to the bit number of the target uplink control information andthe maximum bit number of the uplink control information which can betransmitted by one uplink control channel element.

Alternatively, in some embodiments, the processor 710 may specificallybe configured to determine the number of the uplink control channelelements required for transmission of the target uplink controlinformation according to K·┌M/N┐, where M represents the bit number ofthe target uplink control information, N represents the maximum bitnumber of the uplink control information which can be transmitted by oneuplink control channel element, and K is a positive integer greater thanor equal to 1.

Alternatively, in some embodiments, the processor 710 is furtherconfigured to generate indication information, the indicationinformation including information for indicating the resources occupiedby the multiple uplink control channel elements; and a transmittingmodule may be configured to transmit the indication information to theterminal device.

Alternatively, in some embodiments, the indication information is DCI.

Alternatively, in some embodiments, the processor 710 may specificallybe configured to determine a resource occupied by a first uplink controlchannel element in the multiple uplink control channel elements, anddetermine resources occupied by the other uplink control channelelements, except the first uplink control channel element, in themultiple uplink control channel elements according to the resourceoccupied by the first uplink control channel element.

Alternatively, in some embodiments, the processor 710 may specificallybe configured to determine serial numbers of the resources occupied bythe other uplink control channel elements according to a serial numberof the resource occupied by the first uplink control channel element,and determine the resources occupied by the other uplink control channelelements according to the serial numbers of the resources occupied bythe other uplink control channel elements.

Alternatively, in some embodiments, the processor 710 may specificallybe configured to determine the serial numbers of the resources occupiedby the other uplink control channel elements according to the serialnumber of the resource occupied by the first uplink control channelelement and a predefined function. Or, the processor 710 mayspecifically be configured to determine the serial numbers of theresources occupied by the other uplink control channel elementsaccording to the serial number of the resource occupied by the firstuplink control channel element and a preset offset. Or, the processor710 may specifically be configured to determine the serial numbers ofthe resources occupied by the other uplink control channel elementsaccording to the serial number of the resource occupied by the firstuplink control channel element and HARQ timing of the other downlinkdata, the multiple uplink control channel elements being configured totransmit the ACK/NACK information of the multiple pieces of downlinkdata respectively, and the other downlink data being the downlink data,except the downlink data corresponding to the first uplink controlchannel element, in the multiple pieces of downlink data. Or, theprocessor 710 may specifically be configured to determine the serialnumbers of the resources occupied by the other uplink control channelelements according to the serial number of the resource occupied by thefirst uplink control channel element and sequence numbers of time unitswhere the other downlink data are located and/or sequence numbers ofcarriers where the other downlink data are located, the multiple uplinkcontrol channel elements being configured to transmit the ACK/NACKinformation of the multiple pieces of downlink data respectively, andthe other downlink data being the downlink data, except the downlinkdata corresponding to the first uplink control channel element, in themultiple pieces of downlink data. Or, the processor 710 may specificallybe configured to determine the serial numbers of the resources occupiedby the other uplink control channel elements according to the serialnumber of the resource occupied by the first uplink control channelelement and serial numbers of the other downlink data, the multipleuplink control channel elements being configured to transmit theACK/NACK information of the multiple pieces of downlink datarespectively, and the other downlink data being the downlink data,except the downlink data corresponding to the first uplink controlchannel element, in the multiple pieces of downlink data. Or, theprocessor 710 may specifically be configured to determine the serialnumbers of the resources occupied by the other uplink control channelelements according to the serial number of the resource occupied by thefirst uplink control channel element and serial numbers of TBs or codingblocks carried in the other downlink data, the multiple uplink controlchannel elements being configured to transmit the ACK/NACK informationof the multiple pieces of downlink data respectively, and the downlinkdata being the downlink data, except the downlink data corresponding tothe first uplink control channel element, in the multiple pieces ofdownlink data.

Alternatively, in some embodiments, the resources occupied by the otheruplink control channel elements are at least partially the same as theresource occupied by the first uplink control channel element.

Alternatively, in some embodiments, the processor 710 may specificallybe configured to configure the resource occupied by the first uplinkcontrol channel element. Or, the processor 710 may specifically beconfigured to determine the resource occupied by the first uplinkcontrol channel element according to an RNTI of the terminal device oran ID of the terminal. Or, the processor 710 may specifically beconfigured to determine the resource occupied by the first uplinkcontrol channel element according to a serial number of a physicalresource occupied by a downlink control channel corresponding to thefirst uplink control channel element.

Alternatively, in some embodiments, the resource occupied by an uplinkcontrol channel element includes at least one of a time-domain resource,a frequency-domain resource, or a code-domain resource.

Alternatively, in some embodiments, the multiple uplink control channelelements are used to repeatedly transmit the target uplink controlinformation.

Alternatively, in some embodiments, the multiple uplink control channelelements are used together to transmit the target uplink controlinformation, and different uplink control channel elements in themultiple uplink control channel elements are used to transmit differentinformation in the target uplink control information.

Alternatively, in some embodiments, the time unit is a time slot.

In some embodiments provided by the application, it is to be understoodthat the disclosed system, device and method may be implemented inanother manner. For example, the device embodiment described above isonly schematic, and for example, division of the units is only logicfunction division, and other division manners may be adopted duringpractical implementation. For example, multiple units or components maybe combined or integrated into another system, or some characteristicsmay be neglected or not executed. In addition, coupling or directcoupling or communication connection between each displayed or discussedcomponent may be indirect coupling or communication connection,implemented through some interfaces, of the device or the units, and maybe electrical and mechanical or adopt other forms.

The units described as separate parts may or may not be physicallyseparated, and parts displayed as units may or may not be physicalunits, and namely may be located in the same place, or may also bedistributed to multiple network units. Part or all of the units may beselected to achieve the purpose of the solutions of the embodimentsaccording to a practical requirement.

In addition, each function unit in each embodiment of the disclosure maybe integrated into a processing unit, each unit may also existindependently, and two or more than two units may also be integratedinto a unit.

When being realized in form of software functional unit and sold or usedas an independent product, the function may also be stored in acomputer-readable storage medium. Based on such an understanding, thetechnical solutions of the disclosure substantially or parts makingcontributions to the conventional art or part of the technical solutionsmay be embodied in form of software product, and the computer softwareproduct is stored in a storage medium, including a plurality ofinstructions configured to enable a computer device (which may be apersonal computer, a server, a network device or the like) to executeall or part of the actions of the method in each embodiment of thedisclosure. The abovementioned storage medium includes: various mediacapable of storing program codes such as a U disk, a mobile hard disk, aRead-Only Memory (ROM), a Random Access Memory (RAM), a magnetic disk oran optical disk.

1-80. (canceled)
 81. A method for receiving uplink control information,comprising: receiving, by a network device, Uplink Control Information(UCI) from a terminal device on a first Physical Uplink Control Channel(PUCCH); wherein the first PUCCH comprises at least two uplink controlchannel elements, one of the at least two uplink control channelelements constituting a second PUCCH.
 82. The method of claim 81,wherein resources occupied by each of the uplink control channelelements comprise an Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM)symbol in time domain and a Resource Block (RB) in frequency domain. 83.The method of claim 81, further comprising: transmitting, by the networkdevice, is information to the terminal device, the indicationinformation comprising information of resources occupied by the at leasttwo uplink control channel elements.
 84. The method of claim 83, whereinthe information of the resources occupied by the at least two uplinkcontrol channel elements comprises at least one of information oftime-domain resources, information of frequency-domain resources, orinformation of code-domain sequences.
 85. The method of claim 84,wherein the information of the time-domain resources comprises an indexof a first time-domain symbol occupied by the at least two uplinkcontrol channel elements; or the information of the frequency-domainresources comprises an index of a first RB occupied by the at least twouplink control channel elements; or the information of the code-domainsequences comprises an index of an initial code-domain sequence used bythe at least two uplink control channel elements.
 86. The method claim81, wherein a first uplink control channel element and a second uplinkcontrol channel in the at least two uplink control channel elementsoccupy a same RB but different OFDM symbols, or the first uplink controlchannel element and the second uplink control channel in the at leasttwo uplink control channel elements occupy different RBs and differentOFDM symbols.
 87. The method of claim 81, wherein UCI transmitted ineach of the at least two uplink control channel elements is the same asthat transmitted in one other of the at least two uplink control channelelements.
 88. The method of claim 86, wherein a maximum bit number ofthe UCI which is transmittable by the first PUCCH is
 2. 89. The methodof claim 81, wherein receiving, by the network device, UCI from theterminal device on the first PUCCH comprises: receiving, by the networkdevice, the UCI from the terminal device on the first PUCCH in a timeslot.
 90. A network device, comprising: a transceiver, configured toreceive Uplink Control Information (UCI) from a terminal device on afirst Physical Uplink Control Channel (PUCCH); wherein the first PUCCHcomprises at least two uplink control channel elements, one of the atleast two uplink control channel elements constituting a second PUCCH.91. The network device of claim 90, wherein resources occupied by eachof the uplink control channel elements comprise an Orthogonal FrequencyDivision Multiplexing (OFDM) symbol in time domain and a Resource Block(RB) in frequency domain.
 92. The network device of claim 90, whereinthe transceiver is further configured to: transmit indicationinformation to the terminal device, the indication informationcomprising information of resources occupied by the at least two uplinkcontrol channel elements.
 93. The network device of claim 92, whereinthe information of the resources occupied by the at least two uplinkcontrol channel elements comprises at least one of information oftime-domain resources, information of frequency-domain resources andinformation of code-domain sequences.
 94. The network device of claim93, wherein the information of the time-domain resources comprises anindex of a first time-domain symbol occupied by the at least two uplinkcontrol channel elements; or the information of the frequency-domainresources comprises an index of a first RB occupied by the at least twouplink control channel elements; or the information of the code-domainsequences comprises an index of an initial code-domain sequence used bythe at least two uplink control channel elements.
 95. The network deviceof claims 90, wherein a first uplink control channel element and asecond uplink control channel in the at least two uplink control channelelements occupy a same RB but different OFDM symbols, or the firstuplink control channel element and the second uplink control channel inthe at least two uplink control channel elements occupy different RBsand different OFDM symbols.
 96. The network device of claim 90, whereinUCI transmitted in each of the at least two uplink control channelelements is the same as that transmitted in one other of the at leasttwo uplink control channel elements.
 97. The network device of claim 95,wherein a maximum bit number of the UCI which is transmittable by thefirst PUCCH is
 2. 98. The network device of claim 90, wherein thetransceiver is configured to: receive the UCI from the terminal deviceon the first PUCCH in a time slot.